March 2017

These are the mountains where I spent my childhood. Tall pine forests. Clean air. Snow on all sides, a deep stillness. It takes me three days in a cabin to feel that stillness within me. I have been in crisis-mode since the inauguration, unable to take a full deep breath. That's the trick of oppression, to keep us in a perpetual state of rapid-response, unable to lay order to the chaos, to set down a clear narrative. The onslaught of executive orders blur together, as do the

This piece originally appeared on Scroll.in on March 12, 2017.
The founder of the Revolutionary Love Project shot into the spotlight with an inspirational New Year's Eve speech.
On New Year’s Eve, Valarie Kaur, a documentary filmmaker and civil rights activist based in Los Angeles, California, delivered a moving speech at a historic African-American church in Washington DC. In her speech, she spoke of the dark times ahead and how instead of leading to despair, this could be an opportunity for change.
This speech was actually the message of the

Just hours ago, the President signed a new Muslim ban that shuts our doors to refugees and targets immigrants from Muslim-majority countries. The administration has made tweaks to the original order. But make no mistake: This is #MuslimBan2. The White House’s own policy advisor promised the new ban would “have the same basic policy outcome.”
I'm heartbroken. But resolved to fight. It will take more time to challenge this new ban in the courts. That means we need to go to Congress. If our representatives receive enough phone

Breaking report: Sikh man in Kent, Washington shot last night by a gunman who yelled "go back to your own country." This shooting happens on the heels of the murder of Srinivas Kuchibhotla last week. Hate breaks bones and sears flesh. But it's also in the air we breathe. Right now, I'm having a hard time breathing. I wipe away tears, light a candle, post this note, hold my son & husband, go to the sea to taste the salt in the air, and then resolve to

On Saturday, Feb 25th, we held the inaugural Mai Bhago retreat in Los Angeles! It was the first of its kind -- a gathering for Sikh American women justice leaders. Twenty Sikh American women gathered from all corners of the country. Our circle was diverse: We were brown and white, young and old, gay and straight, turban-wearing and not, and of many professions -- educators, artists, activists, lawyers, and scholars. We were bound together through Mai Bhago, the first Sikh woman warrior, whose legacy inspired the retreat.

About Valarie

Valarie Kaur is a seasoned civil rights activist, award-winning filmmaker, lawyer, faith leader, and founder of The Revolutionary Love Project. She harnesses love as a public ethic and shared practice to fight for social justice. She believes “the way we make change is just as important as the change we make.”

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RT @valariekaur: Going offline for maternity leave! But first - Will you be one of our #Beloved200? Your donation will sustain @RevLoveProj…

RT @mauricebloem: If you want to support the vision of reclaiming love as a force for #justice then check out this link via @valariekaur an…